Your corn is ripe today; mine will be so tomorrow. 'Tis profitable for us both, that I should labour with you today, and that you should aid me tomorrow.
David HumeRead
Nothing appears more surprising to those, who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often accept the authority of their leaders without questioning their own beliefs and feelings.
In this quote, David Hume observes the tendency of the masses to easily submit to the rule of a select few, suggesting that many individuals forego their own opinions and desires in favor of those imposed by their leaders. This commentary reflects on human nature and governance, questioning why individuals allow others to dominate their thoughts and actions, often leading to the uncritical acceptance of authority.
Themes
GovernanceAuthoritySubmissionHuman NaturePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about political authority, one might use this quote to emphasize the tendency of people to follow leaders without critical thought.
More from David Hume
All quotes →Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding.
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All that belongs to human understanding, in this deep ignorance and obscurity, is to be sceptical, or at least cautious, and not to admit of any hypothesis whatever, much less of any which is supported by no appearance of probability.
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There is a very remarkable inclination in human nature to bestow on external objects the same emotions which it observes in itself, and to find every where those ideas which are most present to it.
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To have recourse to the veracity of the supreme Being, in order to prove the veracity of our senses, is surely making a very unexpected circuit.
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